Looking into my crystal ball (and verified against stampeder's Industry Canada data) it looks to me like the future digital channels in Calgary, after the cutoff of analogue which is scheduled for 2011, will be:
21 CBRFT-DT
29 CJCO-DT
36 CFCN-DT
41 CICT-DT
49 CBRT-DT
51 CIAN-DT
52 CKAL-DT

No VHF channels, is that right? So for planning my antena situation, I could either have a combo VHF & UHF which would get me through the transition period (analogue & digital), or plan only for the future and just have a UHF only antena. Is there any reason for having a VHF capable antena in Calgary after the transition?

Is there any reason for having a VHF capable antena in Calgary after the transition?I think the attraction of a VHF/UHF combo antenna in Calgary at present is for the interim years before the digital cutover unless a person has cable or satellite service for those VHF stations in the mean time. After the transition a UHF is the way to go, which you'd still have if you went with today's solution. That's a decision people will have to make based on the facts, so to each their own. :) If the economy gets really tough I would think that monthly cable or satellite bills might change the dynamics of such decisions. You are correct that a post transition antenna in Calgary need only be a UHF as far as we know today.

gsjacobs, there won't be anything on channel 52 after the cutoff in 2011. The radio spectrum being sold off is channels 52-69. Here are the actual channel assignments, no crystal ball required, from http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf/$file/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf

Transitional period: 49 CBRT, 51 CIAN, 21 CBRFT, 27 CKCS, 56 CFCN, 38 CJCO(analogue), 54 CICT, 44 CHCA(analogue), 52 CKAL
Post-2011: 9 CBRT, 13 CIAN, 16 CBRFT, 27 CKCS, 29 CFCN, 38 CJCO, 41 CICT, 44 CHCA, 49 CKAL

So you will still need a VHF antenna, albeit a VHF-HI one (nothing on channels 2-6).

23skidoo, something very important to consider is that the transitional plan was formulated on a different time frame than IC's day-to-day regulatory work so there are already some odd contradictions.

The PDF document's channels are really not chiselled in stone so I think we need to take a wait-and-see approach to the eventual channel assignments. For the sake of simplifying OTA antennas for Calgarians I really hope all the channels go UHF. ;)

^^^^
If you know anyone in CFCN engineering, let them know I am willing to rent out the necessary equipment:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/picture.php?albumid=14&pictureid=484

Just kidding ;). Actually from conversations I have had with the engineering dept. in a Buffalo station, the conversion to DTV is very overwhelming, especially since it is having to be done on shoestring budgets in most cases. Hope you guys out west get some more DTV soon.

cheers

I think they finally received your fine piece of equipment. Last night for 2 hours during primetime they used it with both HDTV and 5.1 buttons pressed. :)

The PDF document's channels are really not chiselled in stone so I think we need to take a wait-and-see approach to the eventual channel assignments.

I agree, though I don't think we will see that many changes to the plan. It is likely that CFCN will stay on 36 instead of moving to 29 and CKCS may want to flash cut to 32 instead of moving to 27 but I personally doubt if there will be any other changes.

I am new to this OTA thing and was wondering what type of antenna someone would recommend - I am in the McKenzie Lake/Douglasdale area.

thanks

Hi Battscrew, I have a feeling your reception will be fine for CTV but when Global comes up supposedly in May its signal won't be as strong. An indoor antenna would probably be fine for CTV but you might want to go with a 4-bay bowtie antenna outside or in your attic for reliable all weather viewing or if you want to distribute the signal to 2 or more TVs. You can even build your own Gray-Hoverman antenna for dirt cheap and its better than any antenna you can buy.

See the OTA FAQ to get started - it has Antenna buying tips that help with reading the Antenna Chart. --------------------------------->

I am in Hawkwood in the NW and CTVHD is coming in crystal clear with just a basic set of rabbit ears.

Reception is looking good for everyone on the west side of the city or in the deep south, but I hope people from the NE, Forest Lawn, and out east of there will give their result soon.

Newbie question here...so if i understand I can hook up an antenna tune to channel 4 and now watch CTV OTA in HD on my HD TV? Sounds too simple am I missing anything? I am in Calgary in Douglas Dale.

Thanks:)

Yes it's true *if* your TV has an ATSC turner. Check your TV's specs and also the KNOWLEDGE BASE & FAQ in this forum.
Newbie question here...so if i understand I can hook up an antenna tune to channel 4 and now watch CTV OTA in HD on my HD TV? Sounds too simple am I missing anything? I am in Calgary in Douglas Dale.

Thanks:)

Newbie question here...so if i understand I can hook up an antenna tune to channel 4 and now watch CTV OTA in HD on my HD TV? Sounds too simple am I missing anything?

You will also likely need to do a channel scan.

I am semi-successful in receiving CFCN in HD OTA. I purchased the 1501880 antenna from The Source today to test it out with this as the result:
http://xraycat.homeserver.com/photos/CTVHD_OTA.jpg
You can see the corner of the antenna in the picture itself as well as the channel informaton on the screen.

The only problem is I only receive a signal if I place my hand near the antenna. Realistically this is a failure so I'll have to look at getting a larger antenna into my attic. I've never been up there, should be interesting...

Just a tip about attics - always wear gloves or you'll get the fibreglass insulation itch. I'd bet that antenna you've got would do better up there, but when Global allegedly comes up in May (I use the word allegedly due to Global's track record over the years) you'll be glad to have a bigger antenna up there to catch the signals from both locations.

Just a tip about attics - always wear gloves or you'll get the fibreglass insulation itch.

Only true if your house has fiberglass insulation in the attic. Most houses build within the past 20 years have insulation blown into the attic so that isn't a problem, though you might want to wear a mask if you start digging through it. Old houses may have Zonolite which you definitely want to wear a mask if you are disturbing as it may contain asbestos.

As per my previous post I have an indoor antenna upstairs in the bedroom which was purchased before reading your antenna chart. I'm thinking of getting the CM4221HD from an on-line store as I can't seem to locate the original cm4221. I also like the Sharp shooter which was on your chart but as I'm about 26km from the towers I'm thinking it is probably too far. Liked this one because it looks easy to install and it will pick up the vhf channels.

I also had previously purchased a Monoprice one and have it installed in the garage. It picks up the ctv digital very good and most of the other analog stations although they are not all that great.

It is quite clear that it is best to install the antenna on top of the roof at the highest point but this is difficult for me so I would like to place it inside the garage or perhaps on the garage roof. There is presently RG6 cable from there into the house so it would make things easier to use it than trying to install in the attic and running the cable through the house. The front of the garage faces northwestish and is roughly 60 feet from the front of the garage to where it enters the house.

With your expertise in the OTA field your antenna recommendation would be appreciated and do you think it worthwhile in this case to install in the garage.

Must admit I'm really impressed with the CTV digital signal and really enjoy the picture quality. It will be interesting watching the football game today on CTV.

Anything that emits an electrical field, be it a garage door opener, a lamp, a fan, etc. must be avoided if you're putting the antenna in the garage. If you can mount it hanging from the main roof joist you should be able to swivel it for aim. I think a CM4221HD will be fine, and its wide pattern will allow you to (theoretically) aim in between CTV and Global, but of course time will tell. Until then you'd want to aim it directly at CFCN Hill.

I live in Coventry and am unable to get the CTV-HD feed. When I do a scan on my TV, it finds 1 channel, but when the scan is done, I don't get any channels. So the signal is probably too weak. I am using an indoor Jensen antenna.

sumdood, I think because of the distance to the north and the presence of the hills and valleys all around you an outdoor antenna is going to be a must.